Published by the Gwangju International Center since 2001
Pansori is probably one of the most well-known “traditional” Korean art forms outside of Korea, commonly referred to as “Korean opera.” Traditionally, the singer would recount a tale from the twelve-work repertoire (madang), such as The Song of Chunhyang.
This month’s article discusses the “han” in the Korean name of South Korea: Hanguk. Is “han” a Chinese loanword? Is it unique to Korean? Why was it selected for the name of South Korea? Why do Koreans put so much meaning into this han? Answers to these questions can be found in the following article.
“It’s understandable that Koreans believe themselves particularly cursed.”
A shaman is someone able to transcend the barrier between the two worlds.
Just as there were a variety of hairstyles and headwear available for men, there were many available for women, too.
Why hats? Today, hats are primarily seen as a fashion accessory, but hair has always held a great deal of symbolic significance in societies. Joseon Korea (1392–1897) was no exception: Hairstyles and the various accessories used to maintain and decorate them during the Joseon Dynasty were imbued with sociocultural meaning.
“Every dog has its day.”
The heat of summer is quickly approaching, and the air quality index for Gwangju is outside the “good” zone for most of the year; indeed, it was high in the … Read More
